Nipple-protector.



J. A. GULLERY.

NIPPLE PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1,1915- RENEWED JULY, 20. 19H.

. Patented Mar. 12,1918.

JOHN A. GULLERY, or BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

nirrnn-rnornc'ron.

Application filed 1 To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that 1, JOHN A. Guinnnr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Nipple-Protectors, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sanitary protectors for bottle nipples and it consists in the novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

An objectof the invention is to providea nipple protector of simple structural ar rangement adapted to be applied to and of the inner sur aceof the protector is spaced from the outer surface of the nipple,

consequently the application ofthe protector will not distort the shape of the nipple nor is it in such close proximity to the same as. to produce rust or corrosion at the inner side of the protector or mildew upon the nipple in the event that either of the parts is damp when brought together. 'Ihesections are provided at their lower endswith out-standing skirt portions which are disposed beyond the outer side of the head of the nipple and prevent dust or other foreign substance from settling upon the same. When the nipple is applied to the neck of the bottle the bead at the mouth of the bottle swells the intermediate portion of the nipple and the protector is provided with an inwardly disposed annular ridge which is adapted to lie between the said swell and the bead of the nipple whereby the protector is held against longitudinal movement with relation to the nipple when applied.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bottle with a niple thereon and the protector applied an shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a transversesectlon'al view of the protector.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detalled 860131011311 view of portions of the protector 1llustrating the means whereby the free edge por- Patented Mar. 12, 19158. y 1, 1915, Serial a... 25,256. Rama July 20, 1917. SeriaL No. 181,858.

tions. of the-sections may be adjustably secured together.

' As illustrated in the accompanying draw-- ing the bottle 1 is of the usual nursing type and is provided at its mouth or the end'of its neck with an annular. out-standing bead 2 indicated by dotted line in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The nipple 3 may be of any conventional form or type and is composed of elastic flexible material such, for instance,

as rubber..'- The nipple 3 is provided at its larger end with an outstanding annular head of the bottle 1 the bead 4 surrounds the neck thereof and inasmuch as the bead 3 is insert-' ed in the intermediate portion of the nipple 4. When the nipple 3 is applied to the neck 3 the said intermediate portion is bowed outwardly'forming a swell 5.

' The protector includes metallic sections .6 and 7 struck up from thin metal, preferably aluminum, and the said sections are hingedly connected tgether at one side edge as at 8.- The section 6 is provided at its free edge with an ofiset flange 9havin ,at its inner edge notches 10. The section provided in the vicinity of its free edge with an out-standing rib 11 adapted to enter one of the notches 10 when the free edge portions of the sections 6 and 7 are brought together. When the free edge portions of the sections 6 and 7 are closed together the edge portion of the section 7 fits behind the flange 9 and the rib 11 may enter any one of the-notches 10 and inasmuch as the said notches are arranged in a row disposedcir- 4 cumferentially with relation to the protector the said securing means permits the protector to be applied to bottles which vary slightly in diameter at their neck portions.

The sections 6Jand 7 are provided at their lower ends with skirt portions 12 which are greater in diameter than the bead 4 and which stand out from the outer surface of the bead when the protector is applied and which serve as means for preventing dust or other substances from settling upon the bead. At the upper ends of the skirt portions 12 the sections 6 and 7 are provided with inwardly disposed ridges 13 which lie between the bead 4: and the swell 5 of the nipple when the protector is applied and which serve as means. for preventing the protector from moving longitudinally with 1 relation to the nipple. When the protector is applied the said ridges are-the only porpletely inclosed and is spaced from the inner surface of the protector. Consequently the nipple is protected from foreign substances and the space mentioned incloses a" volume of air which prevents the formation of rust or corrosion upon the protector and also prevents the formation of 'mildew'upon the nipple. Consequently the nipple is maintained in a sanitary condition and the promctor may be readily detached from the N same when it is desired to use the bottle.

"Having described the invention what is claimed is:

A nipple protector comprising metallic sections hingedly connected together, means for securing the sections in closed position with relation to each other, the sections being provided at their lower ends with outwardly disposed skirt portions and having inwardly disposed ribs located above the skirt portions and provided with outwardly bowed portions located above the said in- Wardly disposed ribs.

In testimony whereof, I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' JQHN A. Gunman Witnesses:

JOHN A. DoNneAN, M. E. LAUGHLIN- 

